The NCAA splits its decision
Some headline writers called it the birth of "a new super football conference"—the lions at last rising up and moving away from the lambs. Father Edmund Joyce
vault.si.com
Not sure if this has been posted before (sorry if it has) but this is from a Sports Illustrated issue from 1978 when the 1st split happened. It explains the split from D1 to D1A and D1AA, back in 1978 with the Who/What/Where/When/Why/How.
While I do not like the current direction this realignment is going, I will say that I am more at ease after reading this . This passage is what gives me that feeling of ease:
•"The division will be top-heavy; 104 are eligible for I-A, only 40 would be left for I-AA."
Not likely. Being eligible docs not necessarily mean a school will opt for I-A status. Within a 60-day period, all Division I schools have to declare the division they prefer. They will then have three years to meet the requirements. Originally, the breakdown figured to be 79 in I-A (the seven major conferences and top independents) and 65 in I-AA. The so-called Ivy League amendment, allowing eligibility in I-A for schools fielding teams in 12 intercollegiate sports, put an additional 25 on the roll. It is not likely, however, that in the privacy of their own environments, weighing the alternatives, more than a few of those will opt for I-A
The reason why this gives me comfort is the numbers involved back (144 D1 teams) then to now. (130 FBS teams) The big boys no longer wanted to be associated/split money with programs they consider less worthy of a seat and they forced the issue back then just like they are doing now. To be D1A there were requirements (stadium size and attendance), that forced schools to D1AA status. Over the years more and more schools moved to D1A (FBS) from D1AA (FCS) to the point that there are now 130 FBS teams. Basically we are back to the starting point were the original split happened. No matter how good Liberty, Costal Carolina, etc have been recently in FBS, the people who always had a seat at the big boys table, do not want those other schools at the table with them. They tried to get rid of them once, and now they are going to do it again.
I think once the dust settles you are going to see around 80 teams in this new division. My prediction is of course the 64 P5 teams + ND. These 65 programs have always had a seat at the big boy table and I do not see that changing. Now where they sit at the table yes that will be a mess, but they will all have a seat none the less.
Joining them will be the 3 Military Academies. There will be political reasons to include them, plus I do think schools do enjoy scheduling them as it make them feel patriotic and they view it as an easy win. The remaining 12 slots will be filled by lesser teams that the big boys can tolerate enough and should be able to handle easily. As much as TV wants Bama vs Clemson type games ever week, schools will still want some creampuffs to open the season with. This is where maybe a Cincy/Boise St/East Carolina type team will fit. Who the actual 12 teams are I do not know, but this is my prediction for how it looks after the dust settles.
